Page 136 of The Dragon's Mate

“Bren,” Tyler stared worriedly at him. “Hecan stay with us, right?”

“We’ll talk to the social worker, buddy. Hemay have to go to a group home temporarily, but we’ll figure something out. Ipromise.”

“It’s fine,” Corey said. “You don’t haveto take me in.”

“Corey -”

Corey squeezed Tyler’s hand. “I’m not yourbrother’s responsibility. Don’t worry about it, everything will be fine.”

They pulled into Bren’s parking spot and heshut the SUV off before opening the back hatch. Corey and Tyler grabbed theirsuitcases and backpacks and followed him across the parking lot toward his apartmentbuilding.

“Maybe we can ask them to let youtemporarily stay with us until they find a foster home,” Tyler said. “Maybe -”

“Shit!” Bren stopped, holding his armsout. “Back, you guys. Back to the car.”

“What’s going on?” Tyler glanced up as a crowdof people darted out of the lobby of his building. “Are those…reporters?”

“Yes. Back to the car. Now!” Bren whippedaround and then cursed angrily when he caught sight of the crowd running up behindthem. In seconds, they were surrounded by a horde of reporters, all of themshoving microphones into their faces and shouting questions.

“Bren!” Kaida was fighting her way through thecrowd of people toward them. There was a moment of perfect silence as the reportersrealized who she was, before questions were screamed at them again.

“Bren!” Kaida hooked her arm around hiswaist as cameras flashed. The lights were blinding, and they covered theirface with their arms.

“We need to go,” Bren said.

“How long have you been dating?” A woman,her long dark hair in a ponytail, thrust a microphone into Bren’s face. “Isyour relationship with your father on the rocks because of this?”

Bren shoved the microphone away. “Nocomment. Excuse us, please. We have no comment. Let us pass.”

“Bren!” Tyler’s voice was scared. He and Coreyhad been surrounded by reporters and Bren could barely see him.

“Tyler!” he shouted.

The air was heating up and he turned towardKaida. Her face was pale, and smoke was drifting from her nostrils as she glaredat the humans surrounding them.

Shit. Any minute she was gonna flash frythem.

“Kaida!” He cupped her face, ignoring theflash of cameras going off around them, and made her look at him. “Honey, it’sokay. Don’t shift and don’t breathe fire.”

“Too close,” she growled out. “Too close tomy mate.”

Her voice was the voice of her dragon and ashiver went down his spine. She was closer to losing control than he thought.

“I’m okay,” he said. “Don’t shift, honey.”

“Tell them to leave,” Kaida growled.

The woman standing closest to Kaida made asmall squeal of panic and backed away when more smoke emerged from Kaida’smouth. Bren didn’t think it was his imagination that Kaida’s body was gettingbigger or that her skin was taking on a shimmery blue tinge.

“Kaida, don’t,” he said.

“Bren!” Tyler shouted. “Bren, help us!”

Fuck! His heart thumping against hissternum, Bren grabbed Kaida’s arm. It was like touching the side of a hotwoodstove and he dropped her arm, shaking his hand out.

“Kaida, please, you need to -”

“MOVE!” The deep voice rang out, remindingBren of ancient gods casting down fire and brimstone on unsuspecting humans.

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